Morrisville-Eaton's Will Thomas is Honor Athlete of Week

Morrisville-Eaton junior Will Thomas says there’s a good reason he’s so prolific as a scorer.

Thomas averaged 31.7 points a game this season to lead all Section III scorers, and has been named The Post-Standard Honor Athlete of the Week.

“I’m a self-made shooter,” Thomas said. “I’ve never had shooting lessons. It’s just me and my brother in the backyard. A lot of hours shooting the basketball,, everyday in the summertime.”

Thomas credits his brother, Ben, who graduated in 2010 from Morrisville-Easton, where he finished with 1.014 points. Will scored his 1,000th point this season in a Dec. 12 game against Mohawk.

“I really think watching Ben set that tone in my mind to always try and get after it, and try to become a good player,” Will said.

Thomas finished this season with 540 points, well more than half his team’s total. The 6-foot-3 guard was his team’s tallest player, so he also jumped center and was his team’s leading rebounder. The Warriors missed the Section III playoffs with a 4-13 record.

“I always say, I want Will to take the ball out of bounds and throw it in to himself, then dibble it up, throw it over to himself and then shoot it,” M-E coach Tom Cooney said. “I just wish he could play every position on the floor for us.”

What was most incredible about Thomas, Cooney said, was that he was able to score so many points despite being double- and triple-teamed in most games. In six games this season, opponents defended Thomas with a box-and-one defense.

“Coaches aren’t stupid. They knew Will was really our only legitimate player and they defended him that way,” Cooney said. “It’s really miraculous he was able to score as much as he did. I’d like to see what he could do without three guys guarding him.”

Thomas said he scored many of his points on fastbreak and rebound opportunities. He scored a career-high 42 points in a game this season against Rome Catholic.

“He’s a scorer, more than even a shooter,” Cooney said. “He can make 3s if he’s open, but he also can put the ball on the floor and go either way. He’s relentless in his pursuit of the ball.”

Cooney says Thomas has succeeded despite disadvantages. He doesn’t have a lot of talent around him, the coach said, and because Morrisville-Eaton only dresses eight players, the team can’t really scrimmage in practices.

“Our games are like practices,” Cooney said.

Cooney, who used to coach both the men’s and women’s teams at LeMoyne College, thinks Thomas will play after high school.

“He’s coachable. He wants to learn,” Cooney said. “He really wants to be a player. I think he can play in college.”

For now, Thomas has one goal. Opponents next season beware.

“I want to score 2,000 points in my high school career and double my brother’s total,” he said.